Help to a daily beater - Speedmaster from 1997

Bille · Jul 31, 2019

Hi OF

I´m a big Speedmaster fan – mostly because of the story (moon landing) and because it´s the most beautiful watch ever made😉 (in my opinion).

My fascination is the old vintage watches – that I´m using for special occasions. Therefore most of my knowledge is about the old watches.

But now I´m looking for an everyday beater – a newer model Speedmaster.

I have found this Speedmaster without any papers, box or anything – watch only

Speedmaster 145.0022. According to the serial no 48348xxx the watch is from 1997 – according to the Roman Hartmann table

Dial: Looks fine, and in an original condition.

Hands: The hands are correct with square-end chrono hand. The lume looks original and matches the dial lume really nice.

Case: Has a few scratches and has been polished in the past.

Caseback: I´m very much in doubt about the caseback. It has the correct Omega Seahorse, but the engraved text is all plain without any black color. Is that a correct caseback?

Bezel: The bezel is in a fine condition considering the age of 22 years.

Crown and Pushers: The crown looks original, but I´m in doubt with the pushers.

Caliber: Omega Cal 861 which can be correct for 145.0022 and 1997. I think it was in 1997 Omega changed from 861 to 1161? Service history unknown. Movement is keeping excellent time, and it winds and sets smoothly.

Crystal: Omega Hesalite – don’t know if it´s original.

Bracelet: Since I´m a complete imbecil when it comes to newer Speedmasters, I don’t know if the bracelet and endlinks is correct. There is some stretches in the bracelet.

The watch has been offered to me for USD 3.300.

I will welcome all inputs.

Thanks to OF.

Jakob

ConElPueblo · Jul 31, 2019

Hej Jakob 😀

At $3,300 this watch is in far too poor condition to consider. It appears heavily polished with the bracelet having seen the polishing wheel on a regular basis. Have a look at how the brushing on the clasp has been done; it is very poor.

The black paint falls out with use and age, can be restored with model paint if you wish.

Even though watches from Danish sellers are often fairly pricy (yours truly excepted, naturally 😁 ), you can do better at this price, even in Denmark.

padders · Jul 31, 2019

Nope. That’s from the 1996 at the very latest. Definitely isn’t a 1997. I would say that is a 3590 or 3570 from the mid 90s with a SL service dial. The Hartman table is useless for Speedmasters. ILMS has that serial at Sept 1996, but there is something funky going on there for sure, that clasp doesn’t belong on that bracelet, and that dial having no T marks doesn’t belong in a 1996 watch, SL wasn’t rolled out until the end of 1997

Taddyangle · Jul 31, 2019

I think at that price point you would be better to buy a speedy that is 1-2 years old, and under warranty.

Noles_88 · Jul 31, 2019

If your not trying to buy a tritium dial speedy. You can get a full set. Without the big box for less and in better condition. Pass on this one. .

Bille · Jul 31, 2019

padders
Nope. That’s from the 1996 at the very latest. Definitely isn’t a 1997. I would say that is a 3590 or 3570 from the mid 90s with a SL service dial. The Hartman table is useless for Speedmasters. ILMS has that serial at Sept 1996, but there is something funky going on there for sure, that clasp doesn’t belong on that bracelet, and that dial having no T marks doesn’t belong in a 1996 watch, SL wasn’t rolled out until the end of 1997

Thank you for your input. I can now see, that there is something “fishy” about this watch. You write that the Hartmann Table is useless, and you refer to ILMS. Which one is that? I have been looking in so many different tables and they all tells something different. Which one is the “official” one? - if you can say so.

Bille · Jul 31, 2019

Taddyangle
I think at that price point you would be better to buy a speedy that is 1-2 years old, and under warranty.

Thanks

Bille · Jul 31, 2019

Noles_88
If your not trying to buy a tritium dial speedy. You can get a full set. Without the big box for less and in better condition. Pass on this one. .

thank you for the advise

padders · Jul 31, 2019

Bille
Thank you for your input. I can now see, that there is something “fishy” about this watch. You write that the Hartmann Table is useless, and you refer to ILMS. Which one is that? I have been looking in so many different tables and they all tells something different. Which one is the “official” one? - if you can say so.

Useless was too harsh a word but none of the web serial tables by year are fully accurate, most are massively flawed. The best resource by far for dating Speedmasters is the website www.ilovemyspeedmaster.com This is run by popular OF contributor @eugeneandresson (using research from other OF collaborators). This uses real extract data and some clever mathematics to extrapolate likely extract (manufacture) dates. It is most accurate where there have been most extracts submitted and the mid late 1990s may not be that zone. but I would trust it way ahead of any table. The annoying thing is that the serials occasionally don't run sequentially, particularly with the -74 models but ILMS makes the best fist of it of any estimation tool or list.

Taddyangle · Aug 1, 2019

Ilovemyspeedy was spot on for my Dec 1969 Mark II Racing.

Help to a daily beater - Speedmaster from 1997

Bille

ConElPueblo

padders

Taddyangle

Noles_88

Bille

Bille

Bille

padders

Taddyangle

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